Vacuum means for holding type and music sheets upon printing presses



. G. FUSSELL. VACUUM MEANS FORHOLDING TYPE AND MUSIC SHEETS UPONPRINTING PRESSES I A PPLICATION FILED DEC.2 7', 1920. 1,426,471,Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

. G. FUSSELL. VACUUM MEANS FOR HOLDING TYPE A ND MUSIC sums UPONPRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATIO N FILED 0156.27, 1920. I

Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- e.- FUSSELL. VACUUM MEANS FOR HOLDING TYPE AND MUSICSHEETS UPON PRINTING PRESSES I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27. I920.

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' iren srarss PATENT for-rice.

GEORGE FUSSELL, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIEA.

'VACU'UM MEANS FOR HOLDING-TYPE AND MUSIC SHEETS UPON PRINTING PRESSES.

Application filed December 27, 1920. SerialNo. 433,329.

for attaching and holding the type sheet or type supporting web andmusic or record sheet upon the printing head and platen, respectively ofsuch machines.

One means employed heretofore for at taching the type sheets to theprintinghead of such a machine has been tomake the sheet of greaterwidth than the head and secure it thereto by clamping means. hen suchmeans is employed it is necessary to stretch the sheet as tightly aspossible across and in contact with the surface ofthe head, and it notinfrequently happens that the sheet bearing the type is torn; also itvery frequently is the case that some portion of the type sheet will sagso that as the type is being inked the sagged portion of the sheet islikewise inked, with the result that a splotchis made upon the musicsheet and the latter possibly spoiled.

It is the object of my invention to provide means whereby both the typesheets and music sheets or records may be heldat all times close againstthe surfaces of the type head and platen, respectively.

A furtherobject of my invention isto provide means for producing avacuum adjacent the rear or underneath sides of the type sheets andmusic sheets or records whereby the atmospheric pressure upon the outersides thereof forces the said sheets firmly and closely against thesurfaces-of the printing head and of the platen, respective v. a

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby sections oftype sheet may be held upon the pr nting head.

This is desirablein-view ofthe .factthat; the

typesheet'may, byreason oftheabsorption of moisture or from some othercause,, expend so that 1ts,1ength would notcor'respend to that of themusic sheet ontowhich .the data of whateverecharacter desired is Shouldthis happen, it I to be printed. would be necessary that one.ormorershort sections be removed .from the type sheet (in order toreduce it to;a length correspond mg to that of the music sheetor totheispaee on the music sheet within ,whieh the print ing istobeeffected. I,

A stillfurther. object of my invention is toprovide means wherebytypesheets and printing sheets of different lengthsmaybe quickly andeasily secured in place upon the printing head and platen, respectively.

A further general object of my-invention is to provide means whereby theplacing upon the printing head and platen, resp ec- ,tively, of aprinting press may be greatly facilitated and the time for'eflectingithe same greatly reduced v I shall not attempt at thispoint;to set forth all of the various. objectsand-advantages ofand incidenttomy invention, but other objects and advantages ofthe Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented Ailg. 22,

and securing of the type and music sheets;

same will be pointed out in the detailed -description thereofwhichfollows or ,willloe apparent from such description. v

.In order that myinvention maybe more readily understood and itspractical advantages fully appreciated, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one embodiment of thesame. However,,it will lbe understood that my inventionis susceptible ofembodiment in other forms of construction than that shown and thatchanges in the details thereof maybe made within the-scope of the claimswithout departing therefrom.

In the drawings: U 1

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of ;a printing pressforfprintingmusic sheets for player pianos and the like embodying my invention; I

.Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a printing head pad;

Fig. 3s a view partly in.-si'de;elevat ion f and partly in longitudinalsection of a portion of a printing head provided with means embodying myinvention;

Fig. 4; is a view in perspective and in diagrammatic form showing aprinting head and a platen provided with my invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional view of a printing head provided withmy invention;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of a platen provided with means for holdi amusic sheet thereon; and

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a member constituting a detail of theconstruction.

'R-eferring to the drawings: 1 and 2 designate the opposite sides of theprinting head and 3 a flooring or sheathing of wooden boards or planksor other suitable material extending between the sides and connectedthereto. This flooring constitutes the base or support for the pads 1 ofsponge rubber secured thereto, upon which the type sheet 5 of paper orother suitable flexible material is held. A number of these rubber padsare secured to the under side of the base or floor 3 and are arrangedend to end entirely covering the said fiooring or sheathing. The saidpads are-each of a width of approximately eleven and one-quarter inchesand preferably should be from live to six feet long. The abutting endsare permanently secured together by any suitable means, such as rubbercement. Extending transversely of the said pads are shallow narrowgrooves 7 which terminate at their opposite ends in relatively deepgrooves 8 which are situated adjacent the opposite edges of the pads andwhich extend lengthwise thereof. Communicating with the outer edges ofthe grooves 8 are short grooves lO which are separated by portions 11 ofthe rubber. A series of holes 12 extend through the rubber sheets fromthe bottom of the grooves 8,the said holes terminating upon the oppositesides of the pad 4 and being in communication with the conduits orpassageways 15 extending longitudinally of the opposite sides 1 and 2 ofthe printing head.

In order to provide for the holding of type sheets 5 of differentlengths upon the printing press head and against the lower side orsurface of the sponge rubber pads 4:,

the continuity of the conduits 15 may be interrupted by means ofclosures or stops 1?. Ttis understood that the printing heads forprinting music sheets for mechanical musical players such as playerpianos in many cases are of relatively great length, being in some casesas much as one hundred and seventy-five to two hundred feet long. Thislength is required when it is desired to print a music sheet ofcorresponding length. In many cases, however, the music sheets to beprinted are of considerably less length. In such case it is desirablethat a printing head such as that above referred to of much greaterlength may be employed readily for the purpose. It is for this reasonthat the conduits 15 are interrupted by means ofthe closures or stops 17For the purpose of withdrawing the air from the conduits 15 I haveprovided a central pipe or tube 18 provided at intervals with branches20 in the form of Ts having oppositely projecting portions 21 with whichare adapted to be engaged the ends oi rubber tubes 22, the opposite endsof which engage the outer ends of pipes 23 which are in communicationwith openings or passageways 24 extending down through the sides 1 and 2of the printing head and the lower ends of which are in communicationwith the conduits 15. Any suitable means, as for instance a vacuum pump,(not shown) may be employed for exhausting the air from the central pipeor tube 18, and by means of the branch pipes comprising the parts 21,E22, 23 and 24. the air may likewise be exhausted from the conduits 15,creating a partial vacuum therein.

The pipe or tube 18 1s adapted to be closed at intervals n properrelation to the closures or stops 17 in the conduits 18 by means ofvalves 25. It will be noted upon reference to Fig. 4: that the pipe 18extends throughout the length of the printing head and that the branchpipes leading therefrom and being in communication with the conduits 15are connected at intervals thereto. The valves 25 are located half waybetween these branch pipes within the re gion ot' the closures or stops17, and as is indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, each valve is in alinementwith two opposing closures 01' stops 1?.

Referring to Fig. 4 and assuming that a type sheet or web held upon theprinting head terminates at a point a, four valves 25 to the left ofsuch point should be opened, while those to the right thereofshould beclosed. Three rows of type 30 are shown as being secured to the typesheet 5, such type bein secured to the said sheet in known manner.

33 designates abutments and guides, consisting preferably of spongerubber, which are secured to the opposite sides of the printing headframe adjacent the lower edges thereof. The lower edges of theseabutments and guides project below the lower edges of the opposite sides1 and 2 of the head and also below the lower or bot-- tom surface of theprinting head pad l. The inner lower edges of the abutments and guides33 are beveled or flared outwardly as cross section, as is indicated inFig. ,1 of the posing surface-of theprinting head pad 4, is caused tomove toward the said pad. When the type sheet is in place against theunderneath or bottom side of the said pad, oppos1te edges thereofcontact with the inner member 40 and a couple of sills 41-1 and 4:2,

preferably of wood. These three parts, 4:0, 41 and 42, are securedtogether by means of bolts 43 in known manner.

Adjacent the opposite edges of the rubber platen 35 I provide bead-likeportions 45 which extend from end to end thereof. The distance betweenthese bead-like portions 45 is equal to the width of the music roll tobe printed and also of the type sheet 5, so that when either is laidupon the platen, the opposite edges thereof contact with the inner sidesof the bead-like portions 45.

When it is desired to print data of whatever character desired upon amusiccsheet the latter is placed in proper position upon the platen andsecured in such position in a manner which will be hereinafter described. It may be noted that the bead-like portions 45 are provided atone end or ad jacent one end with a mark to indicate the position inwhich the music sheet should be placed upon the platen. After a sheethas been placed and secured upon the platen "the type sheet 5 upon whichthe type have already been'secured is placed in position thereon withthe type in the proper position thereon to print the data desired at theproper points and places upon the nusic' sheet.

In order to insure that the opposite edges of the type sheet will enterwithin the lower flared inner edge portions of the ahutm'ents and guides33 when the type sheet is resting upon the platen and when the printinghead is lowered into adjacent relation or position with respect thereto,I place cords 48 or similar means upon the top of the platen or upon amusic sheet which maybe thereon adjacent the inner sides of thebead-like portions 45. WVhen the type sheet is laid upon the said platenthe opposite edgeportions thereof rest upon these cords so that the saidsheet will present a bowed appearance in drawings. The result of this isto decrease the distance between the opposite edgesof enter between theopposite edgeportions of .the members 33 which constitute guides andabutments as'above described. As soon as .thetype sheets 5 have beenpressed up against the under side of the pad 4 by the removed. Thesecords or similar devices are used or employed only in connectionWlth'tlle attachment or securlng of a type the typesheet and thus insurethat they will action of the atmosphere the cords l5f are sheet to theprinting head, as above described.

In the operationofplacing a music sheet upon the platen of the machinepreferably two persons'should be employed, one at what may be termedthe'front ofthe machine, andthe other at'theopposite end or end portionthereof. The person at the front of the machine places the sheet inproper position as determined by'the mark or guide upon some portion ofthe platen structure, as for instance upon either or both'of thebead-like portions 45 or some other portion of the said platenstructure. The person at the opposite end or end'p'ortion of the machinetakes hold of the opposite ends of-the musicsheet and pullsthe same outstraight and'fiat, in which position it should be secured. "As a meansfor securing andhol'ding the music sheet sta- 'tionarily upon theplaten, I provide vacu- I ums or partial vacuums at intervals upon theunder side of the music sheet. One of these vacuums as indicated in Fig.6 should be adjacent one end of the platen, while such'vacuum may beproduced at a number of places at the opposite endportion of the saidplaten, the said places or points being situated in proper relationto-the stops or closures 17 in the conduits 15. For the putpose ofproviding these vacuums or partial vacuums I have provided a pipe 50having connection with the vacuum pump or other vacuum; producing meanspreviously referred to (the said connection and vacuum pump or othervacuum producing means not being shown). The pipe 50 may be connected tothe pipe'or tube 1'8,the conneotion however not being shown.The"'exh'austing of'the air from thepipe '50 is con trolled by means ofavalve" 51 situated adpipe 50 is. provided with a laterally projectingbranch tube 52 which by meansof a length of rubber hose 53'is placedin'com munication with the lower end ofa i ers, the upper end ofwhichtermin'ates in a flat circular nozzle 55 having holes "56" in itsjacent the front end of the platen. The' upperside, as shown. Thisnozzle i s'seatedf 'in an openingl57 formed 'within'the rubber platen35. The top surface of the nozzle is flush with the top surfaceofthe'riibber platen 35. The salesman" rests upon the upper side of asponge rubber pad'60seated in an opening 61 in the flooring or sheath I36 of the platen structure. The purpose oi supporting the nozzle 55 uponthe sponge rubber pad 60 is chat dur'ng the printing operation and whenthe printing head is moved down into position upon the music sheet toprint thereon the nozzle will yield in the same way as the rubber platen35 Will yield.

At the opposite or rear end portion of the platen structure similarnozzles are provided, as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings to whichthe rear end of the pipe 50 isadapted to be connected by means of arubber or similar hose 65. This rubber hose can be connected to any oneof a number of these nozzles as may be necessary to accommodate orcorresponc to the different lengths of music sheets which are beingprinted. r

In Fig. 4- the rubber hose is shown as connected to a nozzle in positionto create a vacuum or partial vacuum underneath the music sheet 66adjacent its rear end por tion, the said sheet terminating a distancefrom the end of the platen structure. as is indicated insaid figure. Themoment that the sheet is in proper position upon the platen theoperative at the front of the platen turns the valve 51 to permit thecreation of a vacuum or partial vacuum within the pipe 50 and in thebranches lead ing therefrom so as to create vacuums or partial vacuums.at a couple of points at least intermediate the top surface of therubber platen and the bottom surface of the music sheet resting thereon.The music sheet will be held in position until the vacuum or partialvacuum is destroyed by closins the valve 51.

The purpose of employing sections of flexible tubing for connecting; thepipe or tube 18 with the pipes 20, the lower ends of which. aresupported within the passageways Zt through the opposite sides 1 and 2of the printing head structure. is to permit limited yielding movementof the pipe 18 toward one. side or the other, due to vibra tlon, withoutaffectlng the printing head structure and without putting unnecessarystress or strain upon the pipes 20. In other.

words the presence of the fl. tible rubber hose sections or connections22 prevents unnecessary strain and injury upon. and to the parts of themachine due to the vibration which is present during the use of themachine or press in the printing operation.

The branch pipes or connections between the central main exhaust pipe 18and the conduits 15 are located at intervals as shown in order that theair may be exhausted uniformly from the said conduits 15 to therebyinsure the holding of the type sheets closely against the underneathsurface of the printing head sponge rubber pad at all points the lengththereof. This in- ;gainst sa 'ging of the type sheet away .1 1 pr headpad. It is necesto prevent sagging of the type sheet in order to preventcontact thereof with the inking pad. 1f the said type sheet should andshould contact with the inking pad it is not only possible but'probablethat an ink splotch would be tormed upon the music sheet in the printingoperation and the letter be thus injured or perhaps rendered useless.

apparent that by the employment producing means for holdinfl th 2 uponthe underneath side of the ove, the said type sheet may iced intosections, if necessary "be adjacent ends ot the said placed in abutting;relation. i is may b "cane necessary in case the type hould expand andbecome too long son of the absorption of moisture or any other cause. Insuch a case a on the lat er at the parties-- 7 d and as may be ".cd thatthe printing divided into two or more see y be operated together or inhead. or each of the said be operated independently of ln such case theexhaust pipe 18 likewise be divided into sections and fillllQCtQCl bymeans of flexible to permit relative movement bepipe or tube sections.en tram the I OI'PQOlTI d a unitary prided that l rinting); press lmeans whereby the lrly pl .ed in p i i c o 'ii'lnting' the air same byure. and also whereby the music sheet may be quickly and readilyattached. and held to or upon the platen of such press.

1t 1 I have provided a will also be seen structure having means wherebytype sheets of dill'erent long: hs may be readily attached to and heldupon the printing head and also wl reby music sheets of differentlengths be readily attachedto and held upon the printing press platen.

Having; thus described my invention. whet claim and desire to secure byletters Patent, is: l

1. In a printing' press. the combination of a hinting head having a t pesheet supportin surface abutn ents s1 .uatcd at the OT)- pcsite loweredges of said head and projectingbelow the type sheet supportingsurface,

a type sheet, and means for holding the said sheet against said surfacewith itsopposite edges in abutting relation to said abutme'nts.

2. Ina printing press, tile combination of a printing head havinga typesheet supporting surface, abutments situated at the opposite lower edgesof said head and projecting below the type sheet supporting sur-.

face, atype sheet, and pneurn ti means fo holding said sheet against thesaid type sheet supporting surface with its opposite edges in contactwith said abutments.

3. In aprinting press, the combination of a printing head having acushion upon its lower side against which a type sheet is adapted to besupported, said cushion having transversely extending grooves in itslower surface which terminate in grooves adjacent the opposite edges ofsaid cushion, a type sheet adapted to be supported upon said cushionover the said grooves, and means for exhausting the air from the saidgrooves whereby the saidtype sheet is held in place upon the saidcushion by atmospheric pres sure. i

4. In a printing press, the combination of a printing head, the lowersurface of which is provided with transversely extending grooves andwith longitudinally extending grooves, the latter being situatedadjacent the opposite edges of saidhead and the transverse groovesterminating therein, and the said head having longitudinally extendingconduits therein whiz-hare in communication at intervals with the saidlongitudinally extending grooves,a type sheet adapted to be supportedupon the lower side of said head over transversely and longitudinallyextending grooves, and an air exhaust pipe for, exhausting air from thesaid. conduits and grooves whereby said type sheet is held in place byatmospheric pressure.

5. In a printing press, the combination of a printing head, the saidhead being provided with groups of transversely and longitudinallyextending grooves upon its lower surface, the longitudinally extendinggrooves being situated adjacent the lower opposite edges of the saidhead, and the said transversely extending grooves terminating therein,conduits extending longitudir nally of the, said head, the said conduitsbeing in communication with the said longitudinally extending grooves,a-type sheet adapted to be supported upon the lower side of the saidhead over the said grooves, and means for exhausting the air from boththe transversely and longitudinally extending grooves.

6. In a printing press, the combination of a type head provided upon itslower surface with groups of transversely and longitudinally extendinggrooves, the latter being situated adjacent the opposite lower edges ofthe said head, and the transversely extending grooves term nat ng.therein,

atype' sheet adapted tobe supported upon the lower side of the said headover the said grooves,an air exhaust pipe, andmeans for establishingcommunication between the said exhaust pipe and the said grooves, thesaid means being situated at intervals whereby air may befexhaustedfrom" the said grooves when a type sheet is in position thereover. 4

7. In aprinting press, the combination of a printing head provi'ded'witha plurality yielding pads upon its lower'side, the said pads being.arranged end to end, each pad being provided with transversely andlongitudinallyextending grooves, the latter being situated adjacent theopposite edges and the transversely extendinggrooves terminatingtherein, longitudinally "extending conduits situated within the oppositeside portion of saidhead, the said conduits being I in communicationwith the longitudinally extending grooves in the said pads, af'typesheet adapted to be supported upon the said padsover the said grooves,and means for exhausting air from the said conduits and from the saidgrooves whereby the said, type sheet is held in place upon the said padsby external air pressure. j

8. In a printi g press, the combination of a printing head. havingtransversely and longitudinally extending grooves its lower surface, thelongitudinally extending grooves being situated adjacent the oppositeedges of the said head and the, transversely extending groovesterminating therein, conduits extending longitudinally of the said head,said conduits having communicating connection at intervalswith the saidlongitudinally extending grooves, a type sheet adapted to be supportedupon the lower side of said head ovcrthe saidgrooves, a relativelystationary air exhaust pipe supported upon said head, and flexibleconnections between the said air exhaust pipe and thesaid conduits forexhausting air from the latter and from the said transversely and longiQtudinally extending grooves whereby the said type sheets are held 'upon'the said head by atmospheric pressure.

9. In a printing press, the. combination of a printing head havingabut-merits ,of yielding m terial secured to the opposite sides thereof,the lower inner sidesof said abutments being flared outwardly, a typesheet adapted to be supported upon the lower side of said head, andmeans for holding said type sheet against the lower side of said headwith its opposite edges in sealing contact with the opposite outwardlyflared lower edge portions of the said abutments.

10. A printing press, comp-rising a printing head having vacuumproducing'means for holding type sheets of different lengths upon thesaid head, the said vacuum means including conduits, portions of whichare provided with closures to divide the said conduits intonon-communicating sections.

11. In a printing press, the combination of a printing head having oneor more conduits extending longitudinally thereof, an air exhaustpassageway in communication at intervals with the said conduits, andmeans for closing the said conduits to divide the same into sectionswhereby type sheets of different lengths may be held upon the saidprinting head.

12. In a printing press, the combination of a printing head having oneor more conduits extending longitudinally thereof, and the said printinghead being also provided with passageways leading from the bottomsurface thereof to the said conduits, an air exhaust passageway,including passageways situated at intervals and connecting the said airexhaust passageway with the said conduits or conduits, and means forclosing both the said passageway and the said conduits at correspondingpoints to regulate the portions of the said conduit from which air shallbe exhausted, substantially as described.

13. In a printing press, the combination of a printing head havingtypesheet abutment and guiding members secured to the lower oppositeside portions thereof, the lower edges of the said members projectingbelow the lower side of the said printing head and thelower inner sideportions of said members being flared outwardly, a platen with which thesaid printing head is adapted to co-operate, cords adapted to be placedon the said platen the opposite edges thereof, a type sheet adapted tobe laid upon the said platen with the op posi to edges thereof supportedin elevated position upon the said cords,the distance between the saidopposite edges being thereby decreased whereby, as the printing head islowered toward and upon the platen, the opposite edges of the said typesheet will enter the space between the said abutment and guidingmembers, and means for effecting movement of the said type sheet towardand for holding it in position against the bottom surface of the saidprinting head.

14:. In a printing press, the combination which the printing is to beeffected, and

pneumatic means for attaching and holding the type sheet and the saidlast mentioned sheet upon the printing head and platen respectively.

15. In a printing press, the combination of a printing head, a typesheet adapted to be attached to and held upon the said printing head, aplaten with which the sait printing head is adapted to co-operate, saidplaten being adapted to support a sheet which is to be printed upon,means for cre ating vacuums between the type sheet and the printing headand between the platen and the said second named sheet whereby the saidsheets are held in place upon the head and platen respectively byatmospheric pressure.

16. In a printing press for printing music sheets for player pianos, thecombination of a printing head, a type sheet adapted to be supportedupon the said head, a platen adapted to support a music sheet for playerpianos, and vacuum producing means for holding type and music sheets ofdifferent lengths upon the said printing head and platen respectively.

17. A printing press for printing music sheets for player pianos,comprising a platen adapted to support a music sheet for player pianos,an air exhaust pipe, means having connect-ion with the said air exhaustpipe whereby a vacuum may be created between the said platen and themusic sheet thereon adjacent the front end portion of the said platen,and a plurality of means toward the opposite end portion of the saidplaten, any one of which is adapted to be connected to the said airexhaust pipe whereby a vacuum may be created between the said platen andthe rear endv portion of a music sheet thereon, whereby music sheets Iof different lengths may be secured and held upon said platen.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereuntosubscribed my name this 22nd day of December, A. D.,

GEORGE FUSSELL.

